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16 November 2020.
Introduction:
- The isolated UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, has been declared the largest fully protected marine reserves in the Atlantic Ocean at 687,000 square kilometres.
- It will be a marine protection zone to safeguard endangered rockhopper penguins, yellow-nosed albatross and other wildlife . This will close over 90 percent of their waters to harmful activities such as bottom-trawling fishing, sand extraction and deep-sea mining.
About Tristan da Cunha?
- It is a small chain of islands inhabited by less than 300 humans.
- It is located at 6,000 miles from London in the South Atlantic Ocean.
- The waters around the island are the richest in the world.
- It is home to tens of millions of seabirds, unique land birds.
- There are two endangered species and five endangered species in the island.
- The island is also home to World Heritage sites such as Gough and Inaccessible Islands.
- These islands are the most important seabird islands of the world.
- The island will become largest no-take zone in the Atlantic Ocean after joining Blue Belt programme of UK.
Blue Belt Programme
- The programme protects the overseas territories of the country.
- It aims to achieve sustainable management of their marine environment.
- It was launched in 2017.
- It includes British Antarctic Territories and British Indian Ocean Territories as well.
- However, in accordance to Antarctic treaty, the claims over the region has been suspended.
British Indian Ocean Territories
- The British Indian Ocean Territories lies 500 miles south of Maldives.
- It consists of five low-lying coral atolls.
Antarctic Treaty
- The human activities in Antarctic are regulated by Antarctic Treaty that was signed in 1960.
- Around 54 countries signed the treaty. The treaty sets Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity in the continent.